Slurry sampling techniques for the determination of lead in Bangladeshi fish samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with a metal tube atomizer

Ultrasonic slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with a metal tube atomizer has been applied to the determination of lead in Bangladeshi fish samples. The slurry sampling conditions, such as slurry stabilizing agent, slurry concentration, pyrolysis temperature for the slurried fish samples, particle size and ultrasonic agitation time, were optimized for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with the Mo tube atomizer. Thiourea was used as the chemical modifier for the interference of matrix elements. The detection limit was 53 fg (3S/N). The determined amount of lead in Bangladeshi fish samples was consistent with those measured in the dissolved acid-digested samples. The advantages of the proposed methods are easy calibration, simplicity, low cost and rapid analysis.     

Terpenoids of the oleoresin ofPinus kochiana

The chemical composition of the oleoresin of Koch's pine growing in the Caucasus has been studied. It has been shown that, with respect to the composition of the monoterpenes and the resin acids, the oleoresin of this species does not differ from oleoresins of the subgenusDiploxylon studied previously. Predominating among the sesquiterpenes is germacrene D, which has not previously been found in the resins of the conifers of the USSR. The diterpenoids are represented by tricyclic compounds (pimarinol, isopimarinol, and methyl 15-hydroxydehydroabietate and the hydrocarbons corresponding to them).     

Stannyl radical-mediated cleavage of pi-deficient heterocyclic sulfones. Synthesis Of alpha-fluoro esters

Treatment of ethyl 2-(pyridin-2-ylsulfonyl)hexanoate with tributylstannane and azobis(2-methyl-2-propanitrile) (AIBN) in benzene at reflux for 36 h resulted in hydrogenolysis to give ethyl hexanoate (60%), whereas no reaction was observed after 48 h at reflux with ethyl 2-(phenylsulfonyl)hexanoate. Ethyl 2-(pyrimidin-2-ylsulfonyl)hexanoate underwent quantitative hydrogenolysis within 1 h under these conditions. This represents a mild new methodology for removal of the synthetically useful sulfone moiety. Substitution of Bu(3)SnD for Bu(3)SnH gave access to alpha-deuterium-labeled esters. Treatment of the alpha-(pyrimidin-2-ylsulfonyl) enolates derived from several esters with Selectfluor gave high yields of the 2-fluoro-2-(pyrimidin-2-ylsulfonyl)alkanoates, which were smoothly desulfonylated [Bu(3)SnH (2 equiv)/AIBN/benzene/Delta] to give 2-fluoroalkanoates. "Catalytic" tin hydride, generated from tribuytltin chloride (0.15 equiv) and excess polymethylhydrosiloxane in the presence of potassium fluoride, also effected removal of the pi-deficient alpha-(pyrimidin-2-ylsulfonyl) moiety from acid derivatives in high yields. Desulfonylation is suggested to proceed via alkoxy ketyl-type radicals and tin enolates.     

Direct conversion of N-methoxy-N-methylamides (Weinreb amides) to ketones via a nonclassical Wittig reaction

[reaction: see text] N-Methoxy-N-methylamides (Weinreb amides) are converted efficiently into ketones by reaction with alkylidenetriphenylphosphoranes and in situ hydrolysis of the product.     

Aggregation-free and high stability core–shell polymer nanoparticles with high fullerene loading capacity,variable fullerene type,and compatibility towards biological conditions

Fullerenes have unique structural and electronic properties that make them attractive candidates for diagnostic, therapeutic, and theranostic applications. However, their poor water solubility remains a limiting factor in realizing their full biomedical potential. Here, we present an approach based on a combination of supramolecular and covalent chemistry to access well-defined fullerene-containing polymer nanoparticles with a core–shell structure. In this approach, solvophobic forces and aromatic interactions first come into play to afford a micellar structure with a poly(ethylene glycol) shell and a corannulene-based fullerene-rich core. Covalent stabilization of the supramolecular assembly then affords core-crosslinked polymer nanoparticles. The shell makes these nanoparticles biocompatible and allows them to be dried to a solid and redispersed in water without inducing interparticle aggregation. The core allows a high content of different fullerene types to be encapsulated. Finally, covalent stabilization endows nanostructures with stability against changing environmental conditions.

A polymer nanoparticle approach to biorelevant and robust fullerene nanoparticles is presented.     

Spectrofluorimetric study of host-guest complexation of ibuprofen with beta-cyclodextrin and its analytical application

The characteristics of host-guest complexation between beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and two forms of ibuprofen (protonated and deprotonated) were investigated by fluorescence spectrometry. 1:1 stoichiometries for both complexes were established and their association constants at different temperatures were calculated by applying a non-linear regression method to the change in the fluorescence of ibuprofen that brought about by the presence of beta-CD. The thermodynamic parameters (deltaH, deltaS and deltaG) associated with the inclusion process were also determined. Based on the obtained results, a sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of ibuprofen was developed with a linear range of 0.1-2 microg ml(-1) and a detection limit of 0.03 microg ml(-1). The method was applied satisfactorily to the determination of ibuprofen in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Separation and Determination of Ephedrine Enantiomers and Synephrine by High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis in Dietary Supplements

The chiral separation of ephedrine alkaloids by high performance capillary electrophoresis is of great interest since the enantiomers exhibit quantitative and qualitative differences in pharmacological activity. The isomers of (–)-ephedrine, (+)-pseudoephedrine, (–)-N-methylephedrine, (+)-N-methylpseudoephedrine, (+)-norpseudoephedrine and (–)-norephedrine are the major bioactive components of E. sinica (Ma-Huang) which is a Chinese herb used for weight loss and as an energy booster in the US. However, the compounds stereoisomers are not present in the plant material. The electrophoretic separation was performed using a 110 cm × 50 m I.D. (101.5 cm effective length) fused silica capillary. The samples were injected by pressure for 5 s at 50 mbar and the running voltage was 30 kV at the injector end of the capillary. Within 23 min, nine ephedrine compounds and synephrine were separated at 210 nm. The method was successively applied to the determination of the ephedrine compounds in dietary supplement products. Parameters affecting the resolution between (+) and (–)-enantiomers, such as pH, cyclodextrin concentration, temperature, organic modifier, buffer concentration and capillary dimensions were reported.     

Effects of mixed H2O‐CH3CN solvents on the rate of hydrazinolysis of N‐phenylphthalimide: Spectral and kinetic evidence for the occurrence of N‐aminophthalimide on the reaction path

Kinetic study on the cleavage of N‐phenylphthalimide (NPhPT) in the presence of 0.05 M NH₂NH₂ and mixed H₂O‐CH₃CN solvents reveals the occurrence of reaction scheme where A, B, C, C₁, An, E, and F represent NPhPT, o‐CO^?₂C₆H₄CONHC₆H₅, o‐CONHNH₂C₆H₄‐ CONHC₆H₅, N‐aminophthalimide, aniline, o‐CO^?₂C₆H₄CONHNH₂, and o‐CONHNH₂C₆H₄‐CONHNH₂, respectively. But, in the presence of either nonbuffered ?0.20 M NH₂NH₂ hydrazine buffer of pH ～7.30–8.26 with total buffer concentration ([Buf]_T) of >0.02 M, further conversion of F to 2,3‐dihydrophthalazine‐1,4‐dione (DHPD) has been detected depending upon the length of the reaction time (t), the values of [Buf]_T, and pH. It has been shown that the rate of conversion of C₁ to F is much faster than that of C to C₁ which is much faster than that of F to DHPD. The reaction step A → C involves general base (GB) catalysis, while step C → C₁ seems to involve specific base–general acid (GA) and GB‐GB catalysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 147–161, 2005     

Vieta–Fibonacci wavelets: Application in solving fractional pantograph equations

In this paper, the Vieta–Fibonacci wavelets as a new family of orthonormal wavelets are generated. An operational matrix concerning fractional integration of these wavelets is extracted. A numerical scheme is established based on these wavelets and their fractional integral matrix together with the collocation technique to solve fractional pantograph equations. The presented method reduces solving the problem under study into solving a system of algebraic equations. Several examples are provided to show the accuracy of the method.